From Tracey:
Since I can't make the meeting tomorrow, I thought I would address agenda item #3 via email and if appropriate, maybe you could add it to the discussions you will be having. I focused initially on the descriptive adjectives and nouns we chose to use in our statement: "consistent", "predictable", "modesty", "neatness" and "appropriateness". (I am omitting "pride", "individuality" and "conducive to learning" for the moment because these terms are harder to define and many could argue have different meanings to different people.) The term "appropriateness" is going to cause some argument because I see many different dress code options that could fit that description but it does give us a wide range of acceptable dress. The "consistent" and ":predictable" I think are best reached by detailed description of whatever dress code we choose. So, "oxford-style shirt" is too general. What do we mean by that? What exactly are we requiring in a shirt? A good example of the confusion is the current trend toward flannel shirts. No one knows if these are "oxford style". This same detailed description is needed when we talk about a "classic fit pant" and a " straight style skirt of modest length". We need to be much more specific in our definitions! Close all the loop holes. It is this specificity that will lead to the "consistent and predictable" that we are asking for in our dress code. It is also this lack of definition that causes more problems with the girls. There are FAR more options of dress within our general guidelines for the girls then for the boys. So, bottom line. If I can add anything to this meeting tomorrow, it would be the need for definition of terms and specificity of acceptable dress.
Since I can't make the meeting tomorrow, I thought I would address agenda item #3 via email and if appropriate, maybe you could add it to the discussions you will be having. I focused initially on the descriptive adjectives and nouns we chose to use in our statement: "consistent", "predictable", "modesty", "neatness" and "appropriateness". (I am omitting "pride", "individuality" and "conducive to learning" for the moment because these terms are harder to define and many could argue have different meanings to different people.) The term "appropriateness" is going to cause some argument because I see many different dress code options that could fit that description but it does give us a wide range of acceptable dress. The "consistent" and ":predictable" I think are best reached by detailed description of whatever dress code we choose. So, "oxford-style shirt" is too general. What do we mean by that? What exactly are we requiring in a shirt? A good example of the confusion is the current trend toward flannel shirts. No one knows if these are "oxford style". This same detailed description is needed when we talk about a "classic fit pant" and a " straight style skirt of modest length". We need to be much more specific in our definitions! Close all the loop holes. It is this specificity that will lead to the "consistent and predictable" that we are asking for in our dress code. It is also this lack of definition that causes more problems with the girls. There are FAR more options of dress within our general guidelines for the girls then for the boys. So, bottom line. If I can add anything to this meeting tomorrow, it would be the need for definition of terms and specificity of acceptable dress.